Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Swoan,” Camden’s soft cry comes over the baby monitor.
“Coming, buddy,” I say, as if he can hear me.
“I’ll go,” Baker tells me.
“It’s okay. I was there when he fell asleep, and he’s thinking I left him. I’ll get him changed and bring him down.” I squeeze his arm as I pass and rush up the stairs to get Camden. I know it’s small, but it’s something that I can do to help lighten his load. Besides, I do want Camden to see that I’m still here. That little boy has his tiny little fist gripping tightly around my heart.
Chapter Nine
Baker
* * *
My feet drag as I make my way to Coach Warner’s office. Reid and Bellamy told him I needed to talk to him. Not that I couldn’t have handled that phone call or text message on my own, but my friends wanted to help. Considering my coach is Reid’s father-in-law, I let them handle it.
It’s the first day of training camp, and the place is lit up with people shuffling through the halls, but I’m here an hour earlier than I need to be. I don’t know how long this talk with Coach will take, and I know there are processes for what I’m about to ask, so I figured it's better to bank on more time than not have enough.
Reaching his office door, I rap my knuckles on the frame.
“Come on in, Sinclair,” Coach Warner’s deep voice answers.
“Hey, Coach,” I say, stepping into his office and closing the door behind me.
“Have a seat, Sinclair,” he says, nodding toward one of the two chairs that sit across from his desk. “What’s going on?” he asks, steepling his fingers. “My daughter said you have a family emergency.”
“Yeah,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “My son’s mother was killed in a plane crash over the weekend.”
“Shit,” Coach mutters. “What do you need?”
“We weren’t together, but she was his mom, you know?” I say. It’s something I’ve been battling with. I’m sad for my son, and of course, I never wanted harm to come to her, but she wasn’t mine. She never was, and I never wanted her to be. Hell, she never wanted to be. Levi was her endgame, and I was just the fool who fell for her beauty for one night of release, and here we are.
“When are the services?” he asks.
Leaning forward, I place my elbows on my knees and hang my head. “I don’t know yet. Her parents are gone, but her fiancé’s parents are handling the details. They were both on the flight,” I say, my voice gruff. “The last I heard, they’re aiming for the end of next week.” I don’t tell him that their bodies need to be flown home, which is horrific just to think about.
“Okay. Tell me when, and we’ll get the paperwork completed for you to miss camp. One day?”
“Yeah, they’re local here in Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, so one day.” I nod.
“What about Camden? Do you need help finding coverage for him? Is the nanny going to handle that?” He’s all business, making sure I have what I need. William Warner is a great coach.
“My nanny quit, but Sloane is helping me with Cam for a while,” I explain.
He nods. “Good. Okay, well, when you know the date, let me know, and we’ll get you excused. Is there anything else I can do for you? What can the organization do for you?” he asks.
“Nothing. I’m good. Thanks, Coach.”
“All right, well, I’m sorry for your loss, for your son’s loss. Let me know if something comes up that I can help with or the organization as a whole.”
“Thanks, Coach.” I nod, stand, shake his hand, and slip out of his office. As soon as I round the corner, I freeze. Knox, Landry, Reid, and Foster are sitting in the locker room. “Hey,” I say, my voice raspy. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Support, brother,” Reid answers.
“We knew you were talking to Coach, and we didn’t know what you would need, if anything, but we wanted to be here just in case,” Knox adds.
“Fuck,” I say, swallowing hard. I’m trying really fucking hard to keep my emotions in check, but these guys, they’re my brothers. We chose to be each other’s family, and fuck me, I didn’t need them, but I’m sure as fuck glad that they’re here. I would just be sitting here in my own head, letting the grief for my son and the loss of his mother overtake me.
“We got you,” Foster says.
“Starting with donuts.” Landry grins.
I can’t help but laugh. “Don’t let Coach see those. It’s the first day of camp, man.” I shake my head at him.
“Coach didn’t see anything.” Coach Warner stops next to Landry and grabs himself a donut.
“Coach, you'd better watch the figure. You’re not getting any younger, Grandpa,” Reid teases his father-in-law.